Travelling On

rtandon27

KC - we have an electric flat top that is not induction - OH loves it and does do many stirfries in various shaped pots, pans and woks! We didn't buy any new cooking utensils when we moved in here, kept our assortment of mismatched pots and lids! He'd like me to point out that even he can clean it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Suffolk_lass

We have a cast iron range that runs on electric but it is turned off throughout the summer and then we revert to a domino two-ring propane hob, and one part of an electric double oven - the one with grill, microwave and fan oven with one shelf. We also have a normal gas BBQ (not a fancy one with hot plates, just a cover) and a camping gas BBQ that we have roasted a sunday joint in (in a Dutch Oven).

I definitely recommend the domino hob which is a glass top that has individual cover and stand bits that remove and wash easily and the glass is easy to wipe - you just need to finish with a piece of kitchen paper to get the pristine look. It has a spark (electric connection) but lights with a match and no problems with pans. We use a steamer/collander top for the big pan so that the veg is steamed, the roots are boiled and a small cast iron pan on the other plate dry-grills any protein. Works fine with my ceramic stir fry pan too.

badmemory

What worries me about going all electric is, what happens when we start getting all those power cuts they keep promising. I have a gas fire which hasn't been used (or checked out) for almost 30 years & what I've used in previous power cuts a gas cooker & hob which I've turned on the oven & left the door open & occasionally added a gas ring for a boost. But what on earth would I do if I didn't have the gas cooker?

Karmacat

I am *so* grateful for everyone chipping in with their kit and their experiences with it. This is the first time in my life I can say "I want" in the kitchen instead of "this was here when I moved in", so I'm clueless at the choices. Much appreciated.

Badmemory - hi! For power cuts, I have a couple of camping stoves - a very old one, 35 years or so, and a much more modern one that takes commonly available cartridges. Heating ... I'd layer up, I suppose, and use the gas oven, which I'd be happy to have, or even 5 minutes of a camping stove inside the house. I know it's dangerous to leave it on for very long, but that's what I'd do. Maybe I'd even get my incinerator going outside and stand around it - believe me, thats hot work

To be honest, stuff like that is a bit hit and miss this year, I'm only just starting to get my feet under the table, so to speak. I'll post about my power cut tactics soon though, because I do have a few

[Deleted User]

Karmacat wrote: »

I'll post about my power cut tactics soon though, because I do have a few

I'll be really interested to hear about those, KC, as I'm sure a lot of others will be too:T.

The aspect of power cuts that worries me most is not being able to keep warm. I suppose standing close to the outdoor incinerator would do for a while, I'd never thought of that so thanks for the idea:T. Strike pickets do it for hours on end don't they but I wouldn't fancy it in a hard frost,snow or gales which is when the power cuts seem to be worst:eek:.


We have oil central heating and I remember someone once told me that she wished they had that too as it would be OK in a power cut:rotfl:. Obviously when the electricity is off so is the boiler pump and with only a couple of electric halogen heaters as our alternative heat source we're totally scuppered during power cuts:mad:. We've thought of opening up the fireplace in the lounge and having an open fire like we did in our pre-central heating years. Might be a good time now to actually get on with it.

Karmacat

CBC, to me, power cut strategy is about chipping away at things. So for lights, I have a couple of torches, I have candles in poundland lanterns (for safety) and I have a few solar garden path lights, also from poundland.

To heat food and water, I have my two camping stoves, and I also found a little solid fuel “Esbit” type for £2 in Mountain Warehouse. Seemed rude not to buy it! I have the cartridges for the onee, and a very few tablets for the other, for about a week. I have a solar kettle, that heats water (to a tepid level – in Australia, it might explode, but not here!) and a home made haybox, made of leftover flooring and insulation panels, with a single small cast iron pan to go with it.

If my gas hob works the way greent's does, I'd have cooking and heat from that, and I made a flower pot candle heater when I was stuck at home when I was ill. Apparently you have to be a bit careful and not put the tealights too close together.…


I've got a tiny little solar recharger for the phone, which seems to work well, and a windup radio somebody gave me.


Heat is an ongoing project. Solar recharging of batteries is also unfulfilled. Miles to go, and all that, but I've made progress.

[Deleted User]

Karmacat wrote: »

CBC, to me, power cut strategy is about chipping away at things. So for lights, I have a couple of torches, I have candles in poundland lanterns (for safety) and I have a few solar garden path lights, also from poundland.

To heat food and water, I have my two camping stoves, and I also found a little solid fuel “Esbit” type for £2 in Mountain Warehouse. Seemed rude not to buy it! I have the cartridges for the onee, and a very few tablets for the other, for about a week. I have a solar kettle, that heats water (to a tepid level – in Australia, it might explode, but not here!) and a home made haybox, made of leftover flooring and insulation panels, with a single small cast iron pan to go with it.

If my gas hob works the way greent's does, I'd have cooking and heat from that, and I made a flower pot candle heater when I was stuck at home when I was ill. Apparently you have to be a bit careful and not put the tealights too close together.…


I've got a tiny little solar recharger for the phone, which seems to work well, and a windup radio somebody gave me.


Heat is an ongoing project. Solar recharging of batteries is also unfulfilled. Miles to go, and all that, but I've made progress.

Thanks for all those ideas, KC. I bet you'd be the ideal companion to be shipwrecked with on a desert island, you'd be able to solve whatever problem arose:A


I was never a Girl Guide myself but volunteered to help at a camp once because a deaf girl I was doing some tutoring with was going and the Guiders were a bit concerned that they didn't have enough adults to give her their full attention. Actually she was perfectly capable of managing without extra help but I enjoyed the experience and had a free holiday:j. It was a whole new world to me. They used hayboxes to cook a hot meal for about 12 people one day. I was most impressed.


I've just remembered, I have a wind-up lantern that gives out a really powerful light. I must dig it out.

Karmacat

Thanks for that, CBC - interesting about the Girl Guides, for both points - I was in a rebellious phase when I left Brownies so I never joined them, my loss. Thats great that you've remembered the windup lantern! I don't have one of those :think: I do like kit

Off for my council healthy walk now, back soon

themadvix

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I was never a Girl Guide myself but volunteered to help at a camp once because a deaf girl I was doing some tutoring with was going and the Guiders were a bit concerned that they didn't have enough adults to give her their full attention. Actually she was perfectly capable of managing without extra help but I enjoyed the experience and had a free holiday:j.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Free holiday? You were definitely there in a special capacity! I'd never describe Brownie holiday or Guide camp as a holiday or focus on the free bit (perhaps with the exception of our Brownie's upcoming Disney trip - but that's a bit special and still *exhausting*)!!

To add my thoughts on a cooker - we have a normal glass-topped electric one (the cheapest IKEA do - all come with a 5-year warranty) - wipes clean beautifully and we manage a pretty good stir fry every week.

beanielou

I was a Quueen's Guide!